Suggest Treatment For Nausea, Diarrhea And Abdominal Cramps
Three weeks ago I had a bad bout of what my doctor thought was salmonella caused by bad chicken. The diarrhea and nausea continued for three days, but on the fourth day I took imodium because I had to return to work. Since then I have not had regular bowel movements, some days I'll go two or three days without a bowel movement and other days I can have soft stools three times a day. Sometimes I would get lower intenstinal pain which I've had for most of my life which I consider gas pains. They are painful but usually end when I go to the bathroom. We went camping this weekend. I had not had a bowel movement in 3 days and then yesterday morning I did. My stools were soft but nothing to worry about. I went three more times before we went to a friends place for dinner. As we walked home from dinner, my diarrhea began - it was explosive (no blood and no serious mucus but very smelly). Last night at 2am I woke up to intense upper abdominal cramping. This was very different than how I felt when I had salmonella which had mild cramping in my lower abdominal area. The cramping was intense for 30 seconds and then retracted and then within a minute began over again. This went on until early this morning. At 6 am the diarrhea was very intense, entirely liquid. The cramping was about a 7/10 (I've had a child so labour was a 10 for me). I've been in bed all day so far. The cramps are not as intense, they come and go but the nausea is constant. I have not vomitted yet but I want to. I don't have a temperature but I have no energy. I am drinking water, coconut water and a mixture of water with salt and sugar to keep my electrolytes balanced. I ate what everyone else ate while we were camping and noone else is sick.
You should do a stool culture to define better the diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you writing in healthcaremagic.
Based on your history, having nausea, diarrhea and cramping for more than 3 days I think you should meet an ID specialist and should do a stool culture and parasite stool test, electrolytes, azotemia, creatinin, and a full blood cells in order to define better the diagnosis and to see for complications.
Furthermore during this time I suggest to continue using mixture of water with salt and sugar,probiotics, drink a lot of water and natural tea, and should start an antibiotic according the prescription of your doctor.As well during this time you should eat just yogurt, banana, toasted bread with cheese,well boiled egg,and shouldn't use milk, fatty foods, meat .
Usually loperamid (imodium) in this case can help relieve cramping, but they may also prolong the diarrhea associated with salmonella infection.
I hope my answer helps you.
Regards.